Christian Art | Jesus And The Way Of Poverty
Mark 10: 28-31 – Week 8 Ordinary Time, Tuesday | King James Audio Bible KJV, Spoken Word
28 ¶ Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,
30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
Jesus has told the rich young man that, to be perfect, he must do more than obey the commandments; additionally, he must give everything away and follow Jesus; he must sell it all, give the money to the poor, and pursue a life of total gratuity with Jesus.
This, then, is the way of perfection, to give away all our attachments to material possessions and to follow God. Peter says to the Lord that this is what he and the other Apostles have done. They have unencumbered themselves, shedding the burdens of property and status to be as fully as they possibly can be with Jesus.
Jesus tells the disciples that those who give away their home and their land and their relatives will receive a hundredfold more than they have given away in return. This is in this time. There is the heavenly reward, and more than this, prior to this, there is the great increase in possessions which comes from having everything in common, sharing everything. If I and ninety nine other people share with each other everything we have, my possessions have increased a hundredfold.
Jesus warns us, though, that with this giving away of worldly attachments, there will come persecutions. Such is the world. Those who are strongly attached to the status that comes with material wealth will look with contempt on those who do not value such riches. It may be too that those with their sights set on riches will count themselves strong and exploit those they consider to be weak. We must be prepared for this, knowing that, in the true scheme of things, this value system will be overturned and the last shall be first.
We are, then, called to unencumber ourselves, to confess our sins and let our attachment to those go, releasing ourselves to love God fully, with our whole being.
‘And even if I would not confess to you, what could be hidden in me, O Lord, from you to whose eyes the deepest depth of man’s conscience lies bare? I should only be hiding you from myself, not myself from you. But now that my groaning is witness that I am displeasing to myself, you shine upon me and I delight in you and love you and yearn for you, so that I am ashamed of what I am and renounce myself and choose you and please neither you nor myself save in you.’ St Augustine
King James Audio Bible | Spoken Word | Endnotes
The Way Of Poverty: A Biblical Perspective
Mark 10:28-31 records an interaction between Jesus and his disciples regarding the cost of discipleship: ‘Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.’
In these verses, Jesus is teaching his disciples the importance of following, even if it means leaving behind everything they have. Jesus promises that those who do so will receive a hundredfold reward in this life and eternal life in the world to come. This promise is not a guarantee of material prosperity, but rather a reward for those who trust in Jesus and follow his way, regardless of the cost.
Throughout the Bible, there are numerous examples of those who chose the way of poverty and self-denial in order to follow God. Abraham left behind his home and family to follow God’s call to a new land (Genesis 12:1-4). Moses gave up his position as a prince of Egypt to lead the Israelites out of slavery (Hebrews 11:24-27). The prophet Elijah lived in the wilderness and was fed by ravens (1 Kings 17:2-6). John the Baptist lived in the wilderness and wore clothing made of camel’s hair (Matthew 3:4). The apostles gave up their jobs and livelihoods to follow Jesus (Matthew 4:18-22).
In the New Testament, poverty is not necessarily seen as a virtue in and of itself, but rather as a means to an end. The goal is not to be poor, but rather to be free from the love of money and possessions, so that we can focus on serving God and others (1 Timothy 6:6-10). Jesus himself lived a life of poverty, owning no possessions and depending on the generosity of others (Matthew 8:20; Luke 8:3).
Throughout Christian history, there have been many who have embraced the way of poverty as a means of following Christ more closely. Saint Francis of Assisi is perhaps the most well-known example. Saint Francis gave up his wealth and status as a wealthy merchant to live a life of poverty and service to others. Saint Francis founded the Franciscan order, which continues to this day, and inspired countless others to follow his example.
Other religious orders, such as the Benedictines and the Cistercians, have also embraced a life of poverty as part of their monastic tradition. In the Protestant tradition, the Anabaptists were known for their commitment to simple living and rejection of material wealth. The Quakers also embraced simplicity and frugality as part of their faith.
In the Catholic tradition, poverty is one of the evangelical counsels, along with chastity and obedience. These counsels are seen as ways of living out the call to follow Christ more closely. Poverty is not just about giving up material possessions, but also about cultivating an attitude of detachment and trust in God.
Pope Francis has been a vocal advocate for the poor and marginalized, calling for a ‘poor church for the poor’. Pope Francis has spoken out against the idolatry of money and called on Christians to live a life of simplicity and solidarity with the poor.
The way of poverty need not be a call to literal destitution, but rather a call to be detached from material possessions and to trust in God’s provision. This way of life allows us to focus on serving God and others, rather than accumulating wealth for ourselves. It is a challenging way to live, but it is also a rewarding one, as we experience the joy of living in communion with God and others.
Ultimately, the way of poverty is not about us, but about following Christ. As the Apostle Paul wrote: ‘For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.’ (2 Corinthians 8:9) Jesus himself lived a life of poverty and self-denial, and Jesus calls us to follow him in this way. As we do so, we will discover true riches of a life lived in obedience to God.
King James Audio Bible | KJV | King James Version King Herod There were several individuals named Herod who played significant roles in ancient history, particularly in the history of the Roman Empire and the region of Palestine. Here is a brief overview of the most notable Herods: Herod the Great: Also known as Herod I, he was a Roman client king of Judea, ruling from 37 BC to 4 BC. He is perhaps most famous for his role in the biblical story of the birth of Jesus, in which it is said that he ordered the slaughter of all male children in Bethlehem under the age of two in an attempt to kill the newborn Jesus. Herod Antipas: Also known as Herod II, he was the son of Herod the Great and ruled over Galilee and Perea, two regions in Palestine, from 4 BC to 39 AD. He is mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who imprisoned John the Baptist and later had him beheaded. Herod Agrippa I: Also known as Herod III, he was the grandson of Herod the Great and ruled over Judea from 41 to 44 AD. He is mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who imprisoned the apostle Paul. Herod Agrippa II: Also known as Herod IV, he was the great-grandson of Herod the Great and ruled over parts of Palestine and Syria from 50 to 100 AD. He is mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who heard Paul’s defence before the Roman governor Festus. These rulers, who were known as the Herodian dynasty, were not Jewish but rather descended from a Greek family that had converted to Judaism. Despite this, they were appointed as rulers by the Roman Empire and were generally unpopular among the Jewish population due to their collaboration with the Roman occupation and their often brutal methods of rule. Herod The Great Herod the Great, also known as Herod I, was a Roman client king of Judea who ruled from 37 BC to 4 BC. He was born in 73 BC in Idumea, a region in southern Palestine, and was the son of Antipater the Idumean, an Edomite who had been appointed as a governor of Judea by the Roman general Pompey. Herod rose to power after the Roman general Julius Caesar appointed him as king of Judea in 40 BC. He consolidated his power over the next few years by defeating his rivals and establishing himself as the undisputed ruler of the region. As king, Herod embarked on a massive building program that included the expansion and renovation of the Temple in Jerusalem, the construction of the port city of Caesarea Maritima, and the fortification of several cities in Judea. He also commissioned the construction of a number of palaces and other buildings, including the famous Herodium, a palace-fortress located south of Jerusalem. Despite his many accomplishments, Herod was a controversial figure who was known for his harsh rule and his willingness to use violence to maintain his power. He was married several times and had a large number of children, several of whom he had executed when they posed a threat to his rule. One of the most famous stories associated with Herod is the biblical account of the birth of Jesus, in which it is said that he ordered the slaughter of all male children in Bethlehem under the age of two in an attempt to kill the newborn Jesus. According to the New Testament, Jesus was saved by his parents, who fled to Egypt, and later returned to Palestine after Herod’s death. Herod died in 4 BC at the age of 70, leaving a legacy as one of the most significant rulers in the history of ancient Palestine. Herod Antipas Herod Antipas, also known as Herod II, was the son of Herod the Great and ruled over Galilee and Perea, two regions in Palestine, from 4 BC to 39 AD. He was born in 20 BC and was named after his father’s patron, the Roman emperor Augustus. Like his father, Herod Antipas was known for his ambitious building projects, including the construction of the city of Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee and the expansion of the Temple in Jerusalem. He was also known for his political cunning and his ability to navigate the complex political landscape of the Roman Empire. Herod Antipas is mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who imprisoned John the Baptist, a prominent religious figure who criticized Herod’s marriage to his sister-in-law, Herodias. According to the New Testament, John was eventually beheaded at the request of Herodias’ daughter, Salome, who danced for Herod and his guests at a banquet. Herod Antipas is also mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who oversaw the trial and execution of Jesus. Although he initially wanted to release Jesus, he ultimately handed him over to the Roman authorities at the urging of the Jewish religious leaders. Herod Antipas’ rule came to an end in 39 AD when the Roman emperor Caligula exiled him to Gaul, modern-day France. He died in exile a few years later. Herod Agrippa I Herod Agrippa I, also known as Herod III, was the grandson of Herod the Great and ruled over Judea from 41 to 44 AD. He was born in 10 BC and was the son of Aristobulus and Bernice, two of Herod the Great’s children. Herod Agrippa I was well-educated and fluent in both Greek and Hebrew, and he was highly regarded by the Roman authorities for his loyalty and his ability to maintain order in Judea. He was appointed as king of Judea in 41 AD by the Roman emperor Claudius, who was impressed by his abilities and saw him as a reliable ally in the region. As king, Herod Agrippa I continued the building projects of his grandfather and expanded the Temple in Jerusalem. He also implemented a number of reforms aimed at improving the lives of the […]
The passage, Matthew 19:16-22, recounts the encounter between Jesus and a wealthy young man who asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. In response, Jesus told him to keep the commandments, to which the young man replied that he had done so since his youth. Jesus then told him to sell all his possessions, give the money to the poor, and follow him. The young man went away sorrowful because he had great possessions, which he finds himself unable to relinquish [ … ]
Today’s Bible reading from the Gospel of St John speaks of the beloved disciple, and from earliest times we have identified this disciple with John. It is strange, however, that this identification is not made in the Gospel. It may be that in so readily equating the beloved disciple with John, we miss out on an important truth of the Gospel, which is that we are all beloved disciples – this title is not that of John only; it is open to us all [ … ]
